Blood & Roses: Warriors of the Krieger

by Theresa Hissong

  I gasped and immediately felt my stomach lurch. It took a lot of willpower but I was able to keep from throwing up. Everyone would know what he did to me. I couldn’t get away from the spotlight. Couldn’t I just crawl into a hole somewhere? I tried to remove myself from his lap. It didn’t work.

  Dragus tightened his hold on me and sighed, “Once his picture was posted all over the news, four women came forward with the same complaint.”

  “What?” I shrieked.

  “You’re not the only one, my love.”

  “Good, they can talk about it so I don’t have too,” I murmured.

  “What?” he asked.

  “Nothing,” I lied.

  Dragus watched me wiggle free from his arms and walk over to the couch. His intense stare agitated me more than it should. I know he meant well, but his observation of me had my head reeling and all I wanted to do was run away. Dragus must have read my thoughts. He fished through more paperwork, looking like he was more intent on it than my own problems. And for that I was thankful for a little time to myself.

  Chapter 14

  Dragus

  My heart ached as I watched Charity trudge up the stairs. I didn’t dare watch her directly, but I did more or less from the corner of my eyes. Her emotions were all over the grid; fear, guilt, uncertainty, worry.

  Tonight would hopefully extinguish at least the worry she held for Adam Castillo. In about an hour, Bastian and Powle would meet us at her farm house with specially made tranquilizer darts filled with the witch’s potion to hopefully cure the hybrid. Extra darts were being made, just in case we find more hybrids other than Adam.

  Our plan was simple, send Charity alone to the edge of the forest, in her backyard, to connect with Adam. The Krieger will be posted, like snipers, at certain invisible points on her property already, in hopes that Adam will not know we are waiting for him when the time comes. Once a clear shot was available, the sniper with the best advantage would shoot him with the potion. My job is to be close enough to protect her, but far enough away not to be noticed by the hybrid.

  “Master Dragus,” Simon interrupted. “A letter from the Queen arrived for you this morning.”

  “Thank you, Simon.” I took the letter and waited for him to leave before opening it.

  The envelope was eloquently made out of a thick beige parchment. The letter inside was hand written in the queen’s perfect script. She was pleased to hear of our bonding and had scheduled our Joining for the first day of March, this year. I breathed a sigh of relief for the happy news I’d just received; finally something to brighten the day of my beloved Charity.

  I tossed the packet aside and immediately made my way upstairs to find her. She was stretched out on the couch, bundled up in a blanket reading a novel. Her eyes flashed to mine when she sensed me in the room.

  “What is it, Dragus?” she asked skeptically.

  “A letter from the queen arrived this morning,” I paused. Her beautiful golden eyes lit up at my words. “Our Joining has been set for the first day of March.”

  “Oh my!” she gasped. “That doesn’t leave a lot of time to prepare. We haven’t even found a place to hold the ceremony.”

  “No worries, love,” I laughed. “The queen says we can have it here at the estate. The servants will take care of everything. Your only worry should be the dress.”

  She sighed and relaxed back into the couch, “Well that helps out. Bless the queen for letting us use the estate.”

  My phone rang, interrupting our conversation. Charity slumped back into her depressed state on the couch; covering herself with the blanket.

  “Master Dragus,” Palo said. “We’re ready when you are.”

  “How much potion were you able to get from Mistress Kai?”

  “Only seven darts were made,” he paused. “I hope that is enough.”

  “We’ll see,” I sighed. “We’ll be there shortly.”

  Charity stood up from the couch and folded her blanket. “So, I guess this is it.”

  I materialized next to her and pulled her close. She rested her head on my chest. God knows, I would protect her life with my own, but I had no idea how to soothe the pain inside her.

  “Dragus,” she whispered against my shirt. “Before we go, I want to tell you something.”

  “What is it, my love?”

  “I just want you to know that,” she paused. “I’m sorry. Sorry for being so sad. It took years for me to get over what had been done to me. I was strong enough to let go of the emotions and the fear that I felt, but after seeing him, it all came back. And I’m sorry.”

  I stood there shocked at her words, “You have nothing to be sorry about, Charity. This wasn’t your fault. I do understand the feelings you are having, love. I have seen it hundreds of times over the years. It’s okay to be experiencing the emotions you are now. But its most definitely not you fault.”

  “I know, but it’s over now. Justice will be served and I can finally put it behind me.” I noticed she unconsciously rubbed her wrist whenever her thoughts went back to that night. I reached down and took her hand; placing a soft kiss to the inside of her wrist.

  “Yes, it’s over,” I whispered.

  Charity backed away and stood tall; taking a deep breath. “Now, I’m ready. Let’s go.”

  We walked slowly into the living room at her farm house. The crew I sent over did a good job of temporarily patching up where the back door had been busted open. Her kitchen was still in tatters and the destroyed living room furniture had been pushed to the far wall.

  Charity took a moment to look around what’s left of her home and sighed, “It looks better than I imagined.”

  “Are you ready?” I asked pulling her thoughts back to the matter at hand.

  “Yes,” she smiled and reached up giving me a kiss on the cheek.

  “You say the word and I will be right there. If you get scared, or if something happens, you run toward the house. I will meet you halfway.” I grabbed her and pulled her to my chest. She wrapped her arms around my waist as tight as she could for a second, then she released me and walked out into the backyard.

  Charity

  I stood there momentarily before I channeled my powers to call to Adam. The night was very cool; the temperatures had to be around forty degrees. I could see very small amounts of snow left at the edges of my yard. For a moment I wanted to laugh. The weatherman was wrong; we didn’t get a lot of snow this week. Can’t they ever get the forecast right?

  My senses didn’t register any of the Krieger who were posted at different points around my land. They were masking themselves so that Adam wouldn’t sense them there either. Because of this, I felt utterly alone and scared. I did, however, sense Dragus’ strong hands holding onto the tops of my shoulders, giving me strength.

  Be safe, mi amado. His thoughts blew through my mind like the whisper of a slow wind.

  Tonight was the night before the full moon; the day when Adam would change into a Lycanthrope for eternity. In my pocket I carried a small vile containing a purple liquid that would bring him back from the pain he has suffered for far too long; pain that I had experienced firsthand and would not wish on my worst enemy.

  I closed my eyes and centered myself. Raising my arms out to the side, I used my telepathy to reach out for Adam.

  Adam Castillo! Come to me! There was no answer. Adam, please come to me! We found a cure, but you must come to me tonight, or it will be too late.

  I felt a light buzz coming from the forest. That annoying hum usually meant there were Lycanthropes in the area, but I wasn’t sure. Adam was so far into his conversion that I might be getting that from him. It never occurred to me that he could lose his powers. Could he be so far gone that he would never be able to connect telepathically with me?

  Adam, please. I’m begging you. Come out of the forest.

  It was then I heard heavy footsteps coming through the forest. As they got closer, I noticed that there were more than just one set. My senses
told me there were as many as fourteen hybrids coming toward me. I took two involuntary steps back.

  Adam, or what I thought was Adam, came out of the tree line first. His eyes glowed like a full blooded werewolf and his body was covered mostly with fur. He remained on two legs, but walked slightly hunched over. His left arm hung low toward the ground, not quite dragging. Adam’s features were the same, but his color was no longer pale white; his skin was now a dirty gray under the hair. His hands had elongated into creepy looking claws.

  “Adam?” I whispered.

  He didn’t speak, but he did issue a primal growl that had me shivering. Instead of talking to him out loud, I tried using our shared ability.

  Adam, I have the potion right here. It has worked for the others. I pulled out the vial from my pocket and held it up for him to see. Adam looked at me puzzled; turning his head left and right, like a confused animal.

  Charity? He sounded confused as he questioned who I was.

  Yes, Adam. It’s me, Charity. I stepped forward slowly approaching him. He also took one step forward, closer to me. We stood there quietly for a moment. He seemed to be testing his own memories. I saw them in his head. My face as it was the night I kicked him out of the club. My whole profile as I walked down from the porch of my house, the first night we met in my yard.

  After another minute, he took another step toward me. I echoed that step with one of my own. Our game of trust seemed to take forever before we were only a few feet apart. I tried to hold my gasp when Adam reached out and touched the side of my cheek with his rough claw-like hands. For a split second I felt Dragus’ panic, before it was quickly extinguished.

  I remember you. Adam’s face lit up once he finally recognized me. I reached up and touched the side of his face as a gesture of trust.

  I remember you too, Adam. Are you ready to be healed?

  Yes! I saw the excitement in his eyes as he realized what I was here for.

  Holding the vial tight, I popped the top. He slowly opened his lips and allowed me to pour the potion into his mouth. Once the last drop fell on his tongue, I used my free hand to close his mouth. It took a minute before he swallowed.

  We stood there waiting for something to happen. It seemed like hours had passed before he began showing the first side effects of the witch’s brew. The hair on his arms stood up on end and he began to shiver. His eyes clenched tight and the next thing I knew, he flung his head back and howled so loud I thought it would pierce my ear drums.

  Adam sunk to his knees and grabbed the sides of his head in pain. I looked out behind him and found more hybrids coming out of the woods. After a quick count, I knew we did not have enough of the potion for all of them. There were thirteen hybrids standing in my yard all converging on me.

  I directed all of my thoughts toward Dragus. We don’t have enough.

  I know! You need to get back in the house! His voice thundered in my head and I knew he was scared, but I needed to do this.

  No! Not yet! I have to help them. I walked forward to greet the hybrids. There were nine males and four females standing there looking confused. One of the women stepped forward and looked at the empty vial in my hand, then frowned. The others bellowed out a growl that had me stepping back, preparing to run.

  About the time they started stalking toward me, I felt Dragus come up next to me. His strong arms wrapped around my waist and before I could gasp, we had solidified back inside my living room. I’d never seen a vampire move that fast.

  Then I heard the sounds of the guns.

  “What are they doing?” I demanded. I tried to make my way toward the kitchen so I could see what was going on in my yard, but Dragus pulled me back. I struggled in his arms, “Let me go!”

  He refused to loosen his grip around my waist. “They’re giving half of them the potion and the other have the Morphine. We’re going to transport them to the hospital and let Dr. Mason work on them. Your job here is done.”

  “Then I’m going to the hospital,” I huffed. “My job is not done, Dragus!”

  Before he could protest, I was out the door and into the Hummer with the keys I’d swiped out of his back pocket. (Yes, I was once a pick pocket. It was a long time ago.)

  Of course, Dragus was right behind me. He jumped in beside me and nodded for me to go.

  We arrived a little later. I think he left the indention of his fingers on the dashboard. Note to self: He doesn’t like my driving.

  Dragus was immediately on his cell phone while I walked into the I.C.U. There was a hustle of nurses and doctors scrambling to work on the patients who had been brought in.

  I spotted Kai and grabbed her as she went by, “Where’s Adam?”

  “Room three,” she spouted before she turned to go into another room with a vial of potion in her hand. I hurried over to the room and looked in through the glass windows. Adam was lying in the hospital bed, tied down with restraints. He had already been sedated. Two nurses worked over him diligently tending to the few cuts that were on his arms.

  I stepped in front of the sensor and the door slid open. The nurses turned and immediately curtsied, “My lady.”

  “Leave us,” I demanded, shocked at the authority in my voice.

  They scurried out without another word and left me alone in the room with the sedated hybrid. I took my steps toward his bed slowly, cautiously. There was no way I was going to rush up to him and possibly scare him. I didn’t know how long he had been sedated.

  Suddenly Meadow’s words came back to me. Whatever you are planning, it will work. I smiled at her vision; it was correct. I will have to remember to tell her. Hopefully it will help her understand that she is on the right path to understanding her ability better.

  Dragus was near; I knew this because I felt him close behind me. I didn’t look back to see if he was standing outside the room. Something told me he was watching my every move.

  Adam looked peaceful. At last his pain was gone. A stray tear escaped from the corner of my eye as I remembered the pain he had been under for the past several weeks. I reached over and brushed a stray hair from his face and he purred in response. Adam may or may not make it through the day, but at least I know I did what I could to help him.

  I heard the door open behind me and I knew it was Dragus. His huge arms wrapped around me, holding on tight. He rested his chin on my shoulder and waited for me to speak.

  “Thank you for helping him,” I whispered. It took a lot of work but I managed not to break down. All of the events over the past few weeks had me totally exhausted.

  “Are you ready to go home?”

  “Yes, there’s not much more we can do here tonight.”

  With that, we made our way back to the estate. The servants had already been in our room and had turned the bed down for the morning. There were a couple of hours before sunrise. Enough for us to have some time alone; something we never seem to have enough of.

  Dragus watched as I changed out of my jeans and sweatshirt and into a pale pink gown. As I walked over to join him on the couch, he flicked his hand out toward the fireplace. I jumped when the logs blazed all by themselves. It was going to take a while to get use to his powers.

  He pulled me down into his lap and we watched the fire burn for a while. Dragus seemed content with our silence. He never pressured me to talk or even move from where we were.

  Dragus

  The moment my eyes flashed open this evening, I panicked because Charity was not beside me in the bed. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust. “Charity,” I called out.

  “Over here,” she laughed.

  I materialized next to her and pulled her up into my arms, “You scared me.”

  “I just got up,” she kissed my shoulder and I relaxed. Her full lips felt warm against my bare skin. For some reason, I was worried she had been taken. Don’t ask me why, but that was my first thought when I came back to life this evening. If I could die of anxiety, Charity’s safety was going to put me in an early grave.


  She was still in her gown from this morning. Her golden curls bounced playfully around her delicate face. Many times a day I think about getting lost in those curls that smell so much like a fresh bouquet of roses. She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen throughout my long existence. I felt myself harden as I looked her over. She chuckled when she looked down at the knot forming in my pants.

  “We have to go over to the hospital, Dragus,” she laughed and made her way into the bathroom to shower. I followed her, watching her move. She was so beautiful that it made my body hard for her.

  Before I thought better of it, I got inside the shower, behind her. She gasped and spun around on me, piercing me with a warning glare. Her expression brought me up short. I let my own needs come before her comfort and for that I felt ashamed at myself. “I’m sorry.”

  She looked at me puzzled now, “Why are you sorry?”

  “I’m…You’re not ready. I’ll just wait until you are done,” I whispered as I tried to step out of the shower. She grabbed me by the elbow and pulled me back in.

  “Dragus,” she whispered. “I’m fine, really.”

  “Really?” I asked a little skeptical.

  She nodded and then trailed her hand down my chest to caress my already too hard length. I flinched at her boldness. My first thought was to push her away, but the way she was touching me, my mind went blank. I rolled my head back as she sunk to her knees and took me with her mouth. Her beautiful golden eyes stared up at me as she used her tongue to test and tease me. My hands sunk into her golden hair and she moaned in response.

  “Oh, I love your mouth.” She flicked her tiny tongue over the slit at the head of my cock. I almost came when she took me all the way to her throat on the first pass. With one hand in her hair and the other on the tile wall of the shower, I began to pump myself inside that hot little mouth. If she didn’t stop I was going to end this too soon.

  I growled and pulled her up into my arms, knowing I couldn’t wait much longer before I had to be inside her. She wrapped both legs around my waist, inviting me inside, as I sunk myself deep into her awaiting heat. I carefully pressed her back into the wall of the shower.